Lawn mower attachment



Aug. 9, 1932. A. ALESEN LAWN MOWER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 12, 1932 Fig. 4,

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A TTORNEYS.

Patented Au. d ldfi UNITE-D,

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" new not arraemir Application filed. January 13,

This invention relatesto a lawn mower at tachment which is. adapted to be detachably secured to a lawn mower for the purpose of breaking such grasses loose from the soil and 5 raising them up into a position wherein they may be cut off by means of the cutting blade of the mower.

An object of the invention is to provide.

Another object of the invention is tosim- 1'5 .plify the equipment which it has heretofore i been deemed necessary to use in destroying the injurious kind of grasses, this invention providing for equipping the lawn mower with an attachment which enables the mower.

n to be used'not only as a grass cutting tool but also as a means for breaking loose the creeping grasses so that as the mowers pro-.

pelled in one direction the creeping grasses .are lifted. from the ground and as it is p ro-,

2a pelled in the reverse direction such grasses are cut oil and deposited in the grass catcher.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for riddin lawns from injurious grasses, which can be operated not only as an attachment toa lawn mower, but which may also be provided with a handle portion and thereby operated independently i of the mower.

which illustrates what is at present deemed 45 to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, a

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a lawn mower showing the same equipped with the attachment.

provided by this invention, the outline of the a mower proper being indicated by broken inFig. 1 and 2.

"19252. sense ne scast;

lines and the new parts provided by this invention being shown in full lines.

Fig, 2 is an end elevation of the structure.

shown in Fig. 1 broken lines and line's being used in the same manner as.m, said 55 Fi -.1.

ig. 3 is about view of the structure shown Fig. 4 is-a plan view of the device showing the same attachedto a handle for operation m independently ofthe lawn mower.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section on line 5-5ofFig.3. i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectionaldetail illustrative of the construction of the end portion of the toothed member showing its relation to the mounting means therefor-{whether the hanger .of such means he of the type shown in the first three views or of'the type shown in Fig. 4.

Referring in detail the drawing, the w lawnmower shown is of the well known spiral blade type being provided with the ground wheels 7, crossbar .8, spiralcutting blades 9.,

and handle 10 which is secured "to the de- 5 vice by means of the yokeelements or arms 11. The rakeor harrow element 15 which .is provided bythe invention for attachment to the lawn mower proper, is supported by V twohanger elements 16, one-located at each at; side of the mower. Each of these hanger elements 16 consists of a short bar formed in two sections which are united by a hingepor- The lawn mower attachment proviaed tion 17, the loweror foot portion 18 of each this invention is capable of being convenient hanger below its hinge 17 having secured to its lower enda rod 20 upon which is mounted the sleeves 21, said sleeves spacing sapartthefingers or teeth 22 which are adaptedto uproot or tear loose low-lying grasses. As, well shown in Fig. 2, the toothed element 15 swings no together with the foot portions 18 to and from the full line positions, said toothed ele- I loose the lowlying grasses when the mower is 309 propelled rearwardly. The rear edge of each of the teeth 22 is sharpened at 22a and the other side of the tooth is bevelled. at 22b in order to produce a pointed tooth of the B proper character to operate efl'ectively in the manner above stated.

Referring more in detail to the construction of the toothed member 15, the rod is shown squared in cross section and each of the teeth 22 is provided with a square ,opening in its upper end whereby it is fitted upon said square rod. The teeth 22 are mounted in properly spaced relation to each other by the spacing sleeves 21 which encircle the rod 20 and are closely fitted between the teeth 22. Each end of said rod 20 is provided with a reduced extension or stud 208 which pro- V jects beyond the foot portion 18of the hanger at that side ofthe device. Outside of each the stud thus tightly clamping the intervening parts in place. During the operation the entire toothed element 15 together with the foot portions 18 of the hangers swings as a unit from the dotted line positions to the full 'line positions of Fig. 2 and vice-versa.

The upper or body portion 16 of each hanger has secured thereto a clamp 30 coni sisting of a yoke having hooked portions 31 which are directed downwardly over'the cross bar 32. Said clamp is provided with a block orsaddle portion 33 and with a clamping screw 34, the operation of said screw causing the bar 32 to be firmly clamped between said saddle and the hooks 31. I

The hanger 16 together with its foot portion 18 is preferably formed of angle iron while the inner end of the clamping screw 34 abuts against .the outer face of one of'the flanges of said angle iron, while the saddle or 'block 33abuts against the opposite face of said flange. Theother flange of the angle iron keepsthe block 33 from moving in one.

lateral direction while the opposite arm of the i in the opposite direction.

The clamping device which has been described is vertically adjustable upon the hanger 16 and it is only necessary to loosen the screw '34 to prepare the device for adjustment to vary the extent to which the teeth 22 will enter the soil. As shown in detail in Fig. 6 the foot portion 18 of the hanger is pivotally mounted at 18m and is cut away at rod is provided with a hook or eye 36 wherehanger a clamping nut is screwed upon" oke prevents displacement of said block 18a to permit the swinging movements of the by it is clamped to the mower extension 37 by means of a thumb nut or like device 38. The means for attaching the frontend of said brace rodto the hanger 16 may consist of an inner nut 40 on one side of the hanger, the hanger being at this point apertured to permit the brace rod to extend therethrough with said nut abutting against the hanger as shown. Upon the projecting portion of said brace rod is desirably placed extension element 41 and the thumb nut 42 is screwed onto the projecting end of said brace rod and against said element to clamp the adja between the cutters 9' and the foot portion 18 of the hanger may be regulated as desired. It is desirable to adjust the toothed member 15 as near to the cutters as possible without danger of interference with them.

. In order to adapt the implement for use as a hand tool independently of the mower, a handle member 45 is provided therefor, said handle having'cooperating arms 46 secured to the end thereof in any suitable manner as by means of the bolts'47 and thumb nuts 48. Each of said arms 46 is provided with a body portion which diverges outwardly from the other and with parallel forwardly directed end portions 46a, said portions 46a being apertured and spaced from each otherthe proper distance to receive between them. the

toothed member 15. Therefore, by removing the clamping nuts 25 the toothed member 15 may be removed from its mounting as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and then the supporting rod 20'together with the teeth and sleeves mounted thereon may be inserted between the arm portions 46a shown in Fig. 4, whereuponthe clamping nuts may be screwed back into place with sufiicient tightness to clamp the device securely in position to be operated by hand, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Describing more in detail the mounting .means for the toothed member, as shown in Fig. 6, each end-portion of the supporting rod 20 is square in cross section to a point which is flush. with the outer surface of the hanger foot 18 (or arm portion 46a, if the toothed member is supported bythe means shown in Fig. 4). The hanger foot 18, and also the arm portions 46a of Fig. 4, are in either case provided with a square aperture 18y into which the adjacent end portion of the rod 20 is fitted. The reduced end portion 208 at each end of the rod 20 projects far enough to receivethe thumb nut 25 so that when the thumb nut at each end of the rod is screwed down tightly in place there can be no accidental displacement of parts. In addition to the parts which have just been recited, a washer element or very short sleeve 21a is placed over the rod 20 outside the end 00th in order tospace said tooth away from I toothed element is mounted in its operative nevaeva the hanger element 18 or arm 46a when the hand implement.

In operating a lawn mower which has.

been equipped with the attachment, during the forward propulsion of the mower, the, teeth of the member 15 will brush lightly across the surface of the lawn without interfering with the usual operation of the mower. But if it is desired to use the mower for the purpose of lifting up and cutting off I the same area the cutting blades may cut off the asses which have been lifted above the sur ace of the lawn by the toothed memher. This operation is rendered more effective by reason of the cutting edges 22a of the teeth severin the creeping grasses so that their upwardly projecting ends may readily be cut off. by the cutter 9 of the mower and deposited in the "grass catcher.

I claim:

1. A lawn mower attachment comprising a rake element having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom, and hanger means to attach said rake element to a lawn mower in advance of the cutting blades thereof, said hanger elements bein provided with hinge elements topermit said teeth to swing clear of the soil when the mower is advanced and causing said teeth to swing into a digging position when the mower is propelled rearwardly.

2. An attachment for lawn mowers comprising a hanger element having a body portion and a foot portion pivoted to said body portion, means to secure the body portion of said hanger element to a lawn mower in an upstanding position forwardly of the cutting blades of the mower, bracing means secured to said body portion in spaced relation to said securing means, said bracing means also being secured to the frame of the mower, and a toothed member secured to said foot portion in position to operatively engage the ,soil when the mower is propelled in one.

direction and to swing out of operative position with relation to the soil when the mower is propelled in the reverse direction.

3. An attachment for lawn mowers comprising, in combination with the mower frame, a hanger bar having a body portion and a foot portion pivoted to said body portion, a clamp to secure said body portion to one of the cross bars of the mower frame, bracing means secured to the mower frame and secured to said bar in spaced relation to said clamp, and a toothed implement secured to said foot portion of said hanger bar, said,

implement being adapted to engage and lift creeping. grasses from thesoil;

4.;An attachment for lawn mowers comprising, in combination with the mower frame, a hanger bar having a body ortion and a foot portion pivoted to said bo y portion, a clamp to secure said body portion to one of the cross bars of the mower frame, a brace rod having one end portion secured to the body portion of said hanger bar in spaced relation to said clamp, the other endportion of said brace rod bein secured to the mower frame, said brace r0 extending forwardly and rearwardly with relation to the mower frame, and a toothed implement secured to said foot portion of said hanger bar, said implement being adapted. to engage and lift creeping grasses from the soil.

5. An attachment for lawn mowers com? prising a set of hangers, means to secure said hangers in upstanding spaced relation to each other upon the frame of the mower, a toothed member adapted for securing between said hangers in position to' engage the soil for the purpose of breaking loose and lifting lowlying grasses, a handle member having arms with end portions spaced apart from each other to correspond to the spacing of said hangers from each other, and means to detachably secure said toothed memberiin operative position either between said hangers or between said arms.

' 6. The combination, with a lawn mower frame, of upstanding hangers attached to said frame'in advance of the cuttin blades of the mower, said hangers having oot portions pivoted to them; and a toothed member adapted to lift low-lying grasses. from the soil, said toothed member consisting of a rod havinga bodyportion fitting between said hangers and reduced end portions adapted to project beyond said hangers, said teeth being non-rotatably fitted upon said rod,

spacing sleeves upon said rod to maintain said teeth in spaced relation to each other, and nuts screwing on to the reduced end por:

'tions of said rod outside of said foot por- 1710118 of the hangers in order to clamp said 8. The combination, with a lawn mower frame having a cross bar extending thereacross at a higher level than the axis of the i wardly and rearwardly extending brace bar ound wheels, of a hanger member comprismg a clamping device whereby said member is detachably secured to said cross bar, a fortive position to lift low-lying rasses when the mower is propelled in one irection and to swing to an inoperative position when the mower is propelled in the reverse direction.

9. An attachment for lawn mowers comprising a set of hangers,'means to secure said hangers in upstanding spaced relation to said securing means comprising a 1'0 .wh1ch said teeth are fixed, said rod having square end portlons and screw threaded poreach other upon the frame of the mower, a

toothed member adapted for securing between said hangers in position to engage the soil for the purpose of breaking loose and lifting low-lying grasses, and means to secure said toothed member to said han ers, o

tions projecting beyond said end portlons said hangers having square apertures to receive sai means to screw on to the screw threaded portion of said rod.

" 4 10. An attachment square end'portions, and, clamping angers in upstanding spaced relation to each other upon'the frame of the mower, a

toothed member adapted for securing between said hangers in position to engage the soil for the purpose of breaking loose and lifting low-lying grasses, a handle member having arms with portions spaced apart from each other to correspond to thespacing of said hangers from each other, and means to detachably secure said toothed member in operative position either between said hangers or between said arms, said securin means comprising a rod to which said teeth are fixed, said rod having square end portions and screw threaded portions pro ecting beyond said end portions, said hangers having square apertures to receive said square end. portions, and said arms also having square apertures to receive between them the a t square end portions of said rod, and clamping means to screw on to the screw threaded I end portions of said rod.

y In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

' ANDREW ALESEN.

for lawn mowers complrlsmg a set of hangers, means to. secure sald 

